PhD, University of Zurich. 1974, joined Swiss Diplomatic Service; career strongly focused on European integration and cooperation; responsibilities included strategic foreign, in particular European, policy work. 1975-84, diplomatic posts at Swiss Embassies in Madrid, Brussels for European Community, and London; 1984-92, Head, joint office of the Swiss Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs, in charge of relations with the EU and EFTA, first as Minister, then 1988, Ambassador; 1989-91, headed transport (transit) negotiations with European Community. 1992-99, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Head, Directorate of Political Affairs; 1994-98, concurrently, Chief Negotiator for Switzerland for sector-by-sector bilateral negotiations with the EU. 2000, President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the largest international humanitarian organizations today, with 13,000 permanent staff and a worldwide network of over 200 offices; the scope of its operations has expanded considerably under his leadership. Lecturer: Spanish University of Salamanca; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich.